Shane Rimmer, voice of Thunderbirds’ Scott Tracy, dies age 89

The voice of Thunderbirds’ Scott Tracy, Shane Rimmer, has died at the age of 89.

Rimmer’s death was confirmed by his widow Sheila Rimmer.

He voiced the iconic puppet between 1965 and 1966 and again in 1968, and had a close relationship with show creator Gerry Anderson, going on to write scripts and provided uncredited voices for Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons (1967–68), Joe 90 (1968–69) and The Secret Service (1969).

During his career he also starred in Coronation Street and three James Bond films and his passing was marked by Bond historian Mark O’Connell and producer Jonathan Sothcott on Twitter.

‘RIP that fine character actor SHANE RIMMER – a great face (and voice) in some of the best loved family films of the 70s: THE SPY WHO LOVED ME, WARLORDS OF ATLANTIS, STAR WARS. Thunderbirds. Amazing career,’ wrote Jonathan.

‘”What’s the matter, sailor? Never seen a Major take a shower before?” Four Bond bullets, three SUPERMAN movies, one STAR WARS, a ROLLERBALL, a DR STRANGELOVE and Scott Tracy… RIP to the godfather of “I know that guy” casting – Mr Shane Rimmer,’ added Mark.

Rimmer played Joe Donnelli in Coronation Street from 1968 to 1970 and was involved in some of the street’s darkest scenes as he held Stan Ogden hostage before taking his own life.

He also played Audrey Roberts’ son Stephen in 1988.

Most recently he was in Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins (2005), as well as Dr. Strangelove (1964), Rollerball (1975), The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), Gandhi (1982), Out of Africa (1985) and Crusoe (1989) and Spy Game (2001).

He also had uncredited roles in You Only Live Twice (1967), Diamonds Are Forever (1971), Star Wars (1977) and Superman II (1980).

The actor was born in Toronto on 28 May 1929, and emigrated to England in the late 1950s where he performed as a cabaret singer before transitioning into acting.